Business News

Playboy Expects to Write Down Programming Inventory, Provides Updated Information Related to DirecTV Lawsuit

Friday 22. October 2010 - Playboy Enterprises, Inc. (PEI) (NYSE: PLA, PLAA) today said it expects that results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010, will include a non-cash write-down, which is primarily related to television programming inventory. T

his charge, according to preliminary estimates, is likely to be in excess of $20 million. The company said that, in addition, the quarter’s results are expected to include bad debt expense of approximately $1 million and domestic TV contra revenues of approximately $3 million, which reflect DirecTV, Inc.’s failure to make payments for TV programming it receives from the company.



DirecTV is withholding payments in conjunction with a lawsuit filed in California Superior Court alleging that Playboy was in breach of its contract. PEI believes that DirecTV is wrongfully withholding payment and that its allegations are unfounded and premature. Playboy is vigorously defending the lawsuit.



The company said that it will release full third-quarter earnings on November 9, 2010.